(Roundheads and Cavaliers #3)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Cover Blurb (Amazon):
A tale of war and witchcraft … plots and playhouses … love and loyalty.
Charles the Second’s attempt to reclaim his throne ends in a crushing defeat at Worcester. With only the clothes on their backs, Ashley Peverell and Francis Langley flee to Paris where Ashley, known to some as the Falcon, resumes his secret work for the King.
Beautiful and street-wise, Athenais de Galzain has risen from the slums of Paris to become the city’s leading actress … but along with success comes the attention of a powerful nobleman, accustomed to taking what he wants.
Ashley and Athenais are drawn together with the force of two stars colliding.
Ashley, lacking money and often forced to risk his life, has two priorities; to guard the King from a dastardly plot hatched in London … and to protect Athenais from the man who would destroy her. Both will test him to the limits.
The King’s Falcon follows the Cavaliers’ last crusade and poverty-stricken exile whilst taking us behind the scenes in the playhouse. There is danger, intrigue, romance … and more than one glimpse into darkness.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
The King’s Falcon, the third book in the excellent Roundheads and Cavaliers series, is everything I have come expect from Ms. Riley – a superbly written and totally absorbing story, which perfectly blends history, politics, intrigue, drama and romance.
For me, one of Ms. Riley’s greatest strengths lies in her ability to create multi-faceted and realistic characters. In The King’s Falcon, we have not just one but two male protagonists, and my response to Pauline’s question…
“I’ve rarely seen one man as pretty as that – let alone a pair. So which took your fancy?”
would be that they are both sigh-worthy in their own way.
The outrageously good-looking Royalist agent, Ashley Peverell, made a brief appearance in Garland of Straw, but now we discover that behind his seemingly carefree nature and amiability lies a very different man. Most know him as a colonel in the Royalist army, but only a select few know him as the Falcon. His keen mind and ruthlessness have served him well in his covert work for the king, work that is often ‘neither honourable or pretty’ but necessary. Although Ashley doesn’t see himself as a man of honour and integrity, it’s clearly shown in his determination to protect Athenais, his unswerving loyalty to his friends, and his willingness to risk his life for the king.
When we were first introduced to Francis Langley in The Black Madonna, he was a charming, frivolous young man who preferred writing poetry to fighting. However, as a captain in the Royalist army (Garland of Straw), his experiences of war have given him maturity and a self-awareness, and his willingness to put his life on the line in the service of the king speaks volumes for his character. I have always had a soft spot for Francis and it was lovely to see him fulfil his true potential as a writer. I also loved his sharp, witty responses when talking to his sister, Celia, particularly as she’s not one of my favourite characters. Anyone who has read The Black Madonna will understand why.
The illegitimate daughter of a retired mercenary and a laundress, Athenais de Galzain was born Agnes Stott in a dingy back-street of Paris. It had taken her six long years of struggle, hard work, and a change of name, to forge a successful career in Théâtre du Marais, rising to become one of its leading actresses. I admire how she achieved her success not just because she was beautiful, but through sheer determination and natural talent. Unfortunately, she has caught the eye of the Marquis d’Auxerre, who is determined to make her his mistress. Athenais is pragmatic enough to know that, one day, such a step would be necessary to protect her career, but there is something about the Marquis that she finds unsettling.
I found Pauline Fleury such an interesting character. She had once enjoyed a dazzling acting career herself, until an accident left her with a scarred left cheek and a slight limp and she is now Athenais’ dresser and mentor. Beneath the prickly surface and forthrightness, she is clever and astute, and she is such a loyal, protective friend to Athenais. I like how supportive Pauline is of her protégé, never showing any jealousy of the younger woman’s success.
The two romances run concurrently but develop in very different ways. Ashley and Athenais have an instant attraction but, as an ex-soldier with little money and no prospects, who is frequently called upon to risk his life, Ashley knows he has nothing to offer Athenais and is determined to keep his distance while ensuring that Athenais is safe from the Marquis d’Auxerre. It’s not long before their all-consuming passion can no longer be denied, but dramatic events will test the strength of their relationship. Ms. Riley deals with a very difficult subject and handles it well. I could feel the deep emotional turmoil Athenais goes through and I love how Ashley allows her time to heal and shows such empathy, encouragement and patience.
I enjoyed seeing the slow building romance between Francis and Pauline. Francis is surprised to find that he has come to enjoy Pauline’s company and is forced to admit that the reason he had written his play was because he found her fascinating. He saw beyond her scarred face and limp to the attractive, intelligent and competent woman beneath. He even liked her sharp tongue. Although Pauline has feelings for Francis, she knows that nothing can come of it
Good-looking titled gentlemen didn’t belong with scarred, one-time actresses past their first blush.
Francis certainly has his work cut when it comes to persuading Pauline to marry him because she’s the most stubborn woman he has ever met. Slowly, but surely, he breaks down her defences, and I love how he tells her that her head, heart and spirit far outweigh her imperfections.
Eden Maxwell has been an important secondary character since he first appeared in The Black Madonna, when his wife’s betrayal had such a devastating affect on him. It was satisfying to see that he has finally come to terms with what happened, and events in The King’s Falcon leave him free to find the happiness he deserves in Lords of Misrule. He is also instrumental in saving the lives of two people.
Among the other secondary characters are…
– Sir Nicholas Austin, a Royalist captain, who is taken in by Eden after he loses an arm at the Battle of Worcester.
– Deborah Hart who is saved by Eden when she is falsely accused of being a witch, and becomes his housekeeper and mistress.
– Celia Maxwell, Francis’s sister, who elicits Francis’s help in obtaining a divorce from Eden.
– Jem Barker, Ashley’s loyal servant and a former highwayman.
– The evil Marquis d’Auxerre who, I’m pleased to say, meets a suitable end.
Like the first two books in this series, The King’s Falcon is rich in period detail, whether it be the bloody Battle of Worcester, the unjust witches trials, the behind the scenes workings of the Théâtre du Marais, the Fronde in Paris, or the plight of the exiled Royalists in Paris, Ms. Riley seamlessly blends fact and fiction, creating a strong sense of time and place. Charles II, the Duke of Buckingham, and Cyrano de Bergerac are among the real people in the story, but the fictional characters are so well drawn that it was difficult to distinguish the real from the fictional. The various plot twists and turns are skilfully handled culminating in an exciting conclusion.
Another superb book from Stella Riley. Highly recommended.
Originally posted on Goodreads
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